Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I really like the sound of Rickenbacker's own nickle round wound strings. Can they be used, after shortening, on a short scale bass or is there some difference other than length between long and short scale strings?

If you use long scale strings on a short scale bass, you will have the full windings going around the tuner posts, instead of just the core (or core and an inner winding). You run the risk of separating the core from the windings, which would ruin the string, and there's also a possibility of breaking the string. That's why it's not recommended. Still, I know people who have done it for years.